Localization and quantitation of hyaluronan and sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the tissues and intraluminal fluid of the pig oviduct

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), hyaluronan (HA) and heparan sulfate (HS) were lo calized in the pre- and post-ovulatory oviducts of inseminated and control (non-inseminated) sows using biotinylated HA-binding protein (HABP) and ant i-syndecan antibodies respectively. In addition, the concentrations of HA a nd total sulfated GAGs (S-GAGs) were measured in fluid collected in vivo fr om either a selected tubal segment (isthmus or ampulla) or from the contral ateral whole oviduct (WO) of non-inseminated sows during proestrus-metoestr us. HA was localized in the lamina propria of the entire oviduct, but epith elial HA-labelling was only present in the sperm reservoir (utero-tubal jun ction-adjacent isthmus) in control and inseminated sows. In contrast, immun olabelling for HS proteoglycans (HSPGs, syndecans) was present on the entir e epithelial lining, both pre and post ovulation and in both sow groups. Bo th HA and S-GAGs could be detected in the intraluminal fluid. Concentration s varied among sows and segments; those of the S-GAGs being higher (P<0.05) than that of HA. Mean levels of S-GAGs and HA tended to increase in the fl uid collected from isthmus and ampulla during standing oestrus. Fluid level s from the WO, however, fluctuated less during the collection period. Major statistical differences were not present, owing to the large variation see n between animals. The results confirm, however, that GAGs are present in t he pig oviduct. The conspicuous localization in the sperm reservoir and the tendency to higher levels in the fluid during pre-ovulatory oestrus suppor t the hypothesis that GAGs play a role in modulating sperm viability and ca pacitation during sperm transport in the pig oviduct.